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SUNNYVALE (KRON) —A decades long tradition of giving continued in Sunnyvale Saturday where a holiday toy drive exceeded expectations.

KRON4’s Philippe Djegal reports the “Rides-for-Toys” program once again brought the community together for a collective effort to help those in need.

What better way to spend a Saturday than giving back to the community and cruising around town in a fire engine after making a donation to families down on their luck this holiday season.

“The donations are needed now more than ever, so I think that’s it’s good to sort help be part of the solution,” said Derek Schuff, who brought his wife and two daughters.

Kids got to play fire fighter for a day which was a blast for them their parents and our local heroes themselves in Sunnyvale

Police officers double as firefighters and EMTs making up the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety which for more than 20 years now has partnered with the non-profit agency Sunnyvale Community Services offering free rides on a fire engine in exchange for toys or cash donations.

“It’s again another wonderful example of Sunnyvale really being a big small town,” said Marie Bernard of Sunnyvale Community Services

On this day, volunteers hoped to collect 1,000 toys, to reach their overall goal of 10,000 toys by Christmas Eve.

“Each family is going to be able to get three gifts per child, um, as well as two weeks of healthy food during the holiday season,” Bernard said.

At the end of the event, the van was filled with gifts and everyone left with a smile on their face.

“Hey, you can come to the fire station anytime you want buddy,” one volunteer said.

Almost as big as the smiles those receiving these presents will have for the holidays, lots of hard work by crew members working behind the scenes and it’s certainly paying off.